Lava Crab Food

THE BEST CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the crab cakes: Gently fold together the crabmeat, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, chives, Dijon mustard, seafood seasoning, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper and the juice and zest of one lemon in a large bowl. Refrigerate the crab mixture for 15 minutes to firm up; this allows the breadcrumbs to absorb some of the liquid, helping the crab cakes bind together.
• Meanwhile, make the tartar sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, dill pickles, capers, chives, zest and juice of 1 lemon in a medium bowl and mix until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Scoop heaping half cups of the crab mixture and pat into 2 1/2-inch wide patties. Lightly press them together so they do not fall apart while cooking. You should have 8 patties.
• Heat 3 tablespoons unsalted butter and 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the crab cakes to the pan and cook until golden, about 2 minutes, then flip using a flat metal spatula. Continue to cook until lightly golden, about 1 1/2 minutes then transfer the pan to the oven. Cook until the crab cakes are completely heated through, about 10 minutes.
• Serve the crab cakes with the tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

LOBSTER AND CRAB STUFFED GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat the lobster and crab meat.
• Spread the bread slices evenly with mayonnaise and toast on a flattop grill. Repeat on reverse side.
• Add the American cheese, lobster, crab meat, cabbage, tomato, Lemon Beurre Blanc and shredded cheese to one of the slices and form a sandwich. Toast until the cheese is melted.
• To serve, cut the sandwich into four squares and place the exposed ends on top of fanned out cabbage. Using a squeeze bottle, drizzle Lava Sauce diagonally across the top of the sandwich. Sprinkle paprika across the entire plate. Serve with shoestring fries.
• Combine the shallots, white wine and lemon juice in a non-reactive saucepan over high heat and reduce to 2 tablespoons.
• Add the cream to the reduction. Once the liquid bubbles, reduce the heat to low. Add the butter, one cube at a time, whisking first on the heat and then off the heat. Continue whisking butter into the reduction until the mixture is fully emulsified and has reached a rich sauce consistency. Season with salt and white pepper. Store beurre blanc in a thermos until ready to serve.
• Mix the mayonnaise, sambal, chile sauce and lemon juice in a bowl until well blended. Refrigerate until ready to serve.